[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 86 (Monday, June 17, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    H.R. 1919 THE SAFEGUARDING AMERICA'S PHARMACEUTICALS ACT OF 2013

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                             HON. RUSH HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 14, 2013

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1919, the 
Safeguarding America's Pharmaceuticals Act of 2013. Currently, there 
exists a patchwork of state regulations that provide for uneven 
detection of contaminated drugs and falsified medicines. Recognizing 
this, the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) recommend in a February 2013 
report that ``Congress should authorize and fund the U.S. Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) to establish a mandatory track-and trace system.'' 
The Safeguarding America's Pharmaceuticals Act of 2013 makes important 
progress in providing for a national standard of tracing medicines 
electronically through the supply chain. We should be doing all that we 
can to ensure the security and authenticity of all medicines in the 
United States. The enhanced drug distribution security required by this 
legislation provides manufacturers with important protections against 
counterfeit drugs as well as increases patient safety for American 
consumers.

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